Save the Children Nutrition Programme Manager

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential.

We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.6 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises.

There are 30 national Save the Children organisations around the world. By the end of 2012 all our international programmes will be delivered through a merged operation with 14 000 staff, managed through seven regional hubs and reporting to a relatively small, central office. We're changing to become more efficient, more aligned, a better par tner, a stronger advocate, a magnet for world-class people and relevant for the 21st century.

The Role:

The Nutrition Manager will be deployed to the field as the principal manager in a medium-sized emergency. In addition to managing DFID and OFDA nutrition projects, the Nutrition Manager will be expected to lead on sectoral assessment, programme design and master budgeting, coordination, and support fundraising, recruitment and procurement. In most circumstances, the post holder will be expected to mentor and/or capacity building existing country programme staff. Key areas of responsibility:

Programme Support (typically will be for small or medium-sized emergencies):

• Lead on multi-sectoral / nutrition technical assessments in coordination with other SC thematic areas and/or other external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings are documented and that all assessments include a specific analysis of children’s needs.
• Working with the Health and Nutrition Program Manager, develop Nutrition sector response plans and master budgets and contribute to Save the Children’s overall response strategy.
• Provide technical checking of Nutrition strategies, assessments and programmes as necessary, and proactively promote high quality Nutrition technical approaches within country programmes.
• Working closely with the Health and Nutrition Program Manager, support fundraising for the Nutrition sector, including development of high quality concept notes and proposals, and engagement with donors’ technical Advisers.
• Prepare and oversee Nutrition programme implementation to ensure timely delivery of programme activities (for example, monitoring against logframes, individual performance management workplans).
• Prepare timely programme and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.
• Working closely with the HR team, identify Nutrition staffing needs (both national and international) for emergency programmes, and ensure rapid recruitment, induction and training of new staff.
• Identify Nutrition programme supplies needs and coordinate with the logistics team to put in place a sensible phased procurement plan.
• Working closely with the Monitoring & Evaluation team put in place a sector M & E plan, ensuring this links to reporting requirements, and capacity build technical field staff in carrying out the work.
• Working closely with the Accountability lead put in place accountability activities for your thematic area, ensuring that feedback from all relevant stakeholders is considered in Nutrition programme design.
• To ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct.

Capacity Building:

• Identify learning and training opportunities for Save the Children staff and partners and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff.
• Oversee development and deliver technical training material that will improve aspects of Nutrition work within Save the Children, at country level.

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Ensure that Save the Children's work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and Government, and take a leadership role within Interagency Coordination forums, such as the Nutrition cluster, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed. This may involve taking the lead in Nutrition cluster working groups.
• Take steps to document lessons learned, from Nutrition programmes, for wider dissemination.
• In collaboration with senior programme staff, assist in advocacy activities that target decision-makers at all levels.
• In collaboration with SC Nutrition colleagues, feed in learning, experiences and evidence to relevant global advocacy objectives.
• To identify opportunities and material to contribute to Nutrition communications and media work, acting as a spokesperson when required.

General:

Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

Qualifications and Experience:

Required:

• At least 3 years of management experience in emergency, fragile state or development Nutrition programmes.
• Previous first phase emergency response experience
• Education to Masters level in Public Health Nutrition, or a related subject, or equivalent field experience
• Previous experience of managing a Nutrition team at national level
• Previous experience of Nutrition project management and programme coordination, implementing Nutrition programmes within donor constraints, on time and within budget
• Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability
• Demonstrated monitoring and evaluation skills
• Ability to work both in an advisory and a hands on implementation capacity
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff in Nutrition technical skills
• Experience of representation and ability to represent SC effectively in external forums.
• Experience of preparing successful funding proposals for donors
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong influencing skills and experience in advocacy
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• A high level of written and spoken English
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support

Desirable:

• Language skills in Arabic
• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts
• Specific experience of designing and managing DFID, ECHO, OFDA and other major donor projects
• Specific experience of working in consortia projects.

Please note that the closing date for applications is Tuesday 18th December 2012.

How to apply:

Please email your resume to: jobs.12802.3830@savethechildrenint.aplitrak.com